Friday, May 10, 2019

VA - Dirty Laundry The Soul of Black Country [2005] + More Dirty Laundry [2008]




VA - Dirty Laundry The Soul of Black Country [2005] + More Dirty Laundry [2008]

The first installment in this series, not only wants to reveal long forgotten treasures of music history, and shed light on the often neglected Country roots of Soul stars, but put Afro-American Country musicians into a context beyond their genre. Not only do black Americans make up for a considerable share of Country's audience, they have also contributed - a fact very often overlooked by the media - a great deal to the heritage of Country music as songwriters, producers, and singers, who worked against the white clich? of their favorite genre. From afar, it might seem that the Afro-American presence in Country music started and ended with Charly Pride. But whoever takes a closer look at the relationship between black artists and Country music will soon discover a the story of a great love, sorely tried and often denied. 24 tracks including cuts from Ella Washington, Joe Simon, Candy Staton, Betty Lavette, Arthur Alexander and many others.

The second installment is another excellent compilation. Some of the tunes on here drift more towards the soul end of the spectrum at times, but even those have at least a little dab of country in their composition. Some songs do a nice job of mixing the two genres, while other tunes are so backwoods and countrified that many listeners would be shocked to learn that they were sung by a black man ... or woman, in some cases. Most listeners will be familiar with a few big soul music names on this CD, some of whom you would not associate with country music, such as James Brown, Ike & Tina Turner, Joe Tex, Margie Joseph, Johnny Adams, Solomon Burke Ruth Brown, and even Sammy Davis Jr. (who does a great cover of the old western swing classic "Smoke Smoke Smoke (That Cigarette)." There are also a few artists who are known to swing from both sides of the musical plate, such as Arthur Alexander, Bobby Womack, and Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown,. And then there are some artists who are just died-in-the-wool country, no matter what their skin color, such as O.B. McClinton, O.C. Smith, and the amazing Stoney Edwards (one of my favorites from the first volume, who is represented with one track on this collection too). Among the bigger delights on this collection are the unknown Vicki Vann doing "You Must Think My Heart Has Swinging Doors" (great title!) and the album's closer, the hilarious "Pardon Me (I've Got Someone to Kill)" by Andre Williams. Brilliant stuff! (Amazon)


I've always thought there were a lot of emotional bonds and sonic links between Country Music and Southern Soul Music, and collections like these offer ample evidence.

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VA - Dirty Laundry The Soul of Black Country [2005] +
VA - More Dirty Laundry The Soul of Black Country [2008]
https://krakenfiles.com/view/540158007f/file.html

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Track list 1


01    Ella Washington - He Called Me Baby    :03:02
02    Joe Simon     - Chokin' Kind    :02:40
03    Bobby Powell - Your Cheating Heart    :02:36
04    Arthur Alexander - Love's Where Life Begins    :02:28
05    Candi Staton - Stand By Your Man    :02:54
06    Bettye Lavette - What Condition My Condition Is In    :02:36
07    Roscoe Shelton - There's A Heartbreak Somewhere    :03:01
08    Stoney Edwards - She's My Rock    :02:26
09    Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown - Mama Mambo    :02:18
10    Earl Gaines - You Are My Sunshine    :02:41
11    Etta James     - Almost Persuaded    :03:22
12    Bobby Womack - Bouquet Of Roses    :02:47
13    Johnny Adams - In A Moment Of Weakness    :02:35
14    Bettye Swann - Just Because You Can't Be Mine    :02:35
15    Freddie North - Don't Take Her She's All I Got    :02:43
16    Otis William - Shutters & Boards    :02:25
17    Bobby Jonz - Snap Your Fingers    :03:01
18    Andre Williams & 2 Star Tabernacle    Jet Black Daddy Lilly White Mama    :04:33
19    Pointer Sisters - Fairy Tale    :05:06
20    James & Bobby Purify - Sixteen Tons    :02:27
21    James Brown - Your Cheating Heart    :02:58
22    Willie Hobbs - Till I Get It Right    :02:41
23    Curtis Mayfield - Dirty Laundry    :04:08
24    Solomon Burke - I Can't Stop Loving You    :05:25

Track list 2

1    Johnny Adams - Hell Yes I Cheated    :03:33
2    O.B. McClinton - If Loving You Is Wrong    :02:53
3    Eric Mercury - A Gift For You    :03:47
4    Lou Johnson - She Thinks I Still Care    :03:13
5    Margie Joseph - Touch Your Woman    :03:12
6    O.B. McClinton - Talk To My Childrens Mama    :02:58
7    Joe Tex - Just To Win Your Love    :02:28
8    Arthur Alexander - Everyday I Have To Cry    :02:45
9    Vicki Vann - You Must Think My Heart Has Swinging Doors    :02:55
10    Ike & Tina Turner - Don't Believe Nothing    :03:16
11    Clarence Frogman Henry - I Told My Pillow    :02:15
12    Joe Tex - King Of The Road    :02:12
13    Sammy Davis Jr. - Smoke Smoke Smoke    :03:03
14    Stoney Edwards - Honkey Tonk Heaven    :02:17
15    Clyde McPhatter - I'm Movin On    :01:57
16    Ruth Brown - Tennessee Waltz    :04:15
17    Solomon Burke - He'll Have To Go    :03:19
18    Bobby Womack - Point Of No Return    :02:45
19    O.C. Smith - The Son Of Hickory Holler Tramp    :03:53
20    James Brown - Three Hearts In A Tangle    :02:53
21    Junior Parker - Walking The Floor    :02:27
22    Joe Simon     - Someone To Give My Love To    :03:08
23    Clarence Gatemouth Brown - Amos Moses    :03:25
24    Andre Williams - Pardon Me (I've Got Someone To Kill)    :02:42

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20 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Your Welcome Charles D.
      This is a terrific set.

      Cheers

      Delete
  2. Thanks for this BB! And: glad you mentioned yr site in the TWZ comments - you've got a ton of great stuff, and I never woulda known you hadda site!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi HeySuchAndSuch,
      Thanks for dropping in. Glad you found my blog and enjoying what you've seen.
      I don't post much here but there should always be something most days.
      Cheers

      Delete
  3. "Earl Gaines" - have never understood why he doesn't appear on more comps or that the likes of Charly or Kent haven't created old masters with B-sides on such as "It's Worth Anything".

    Some good tracks on these 2 ....... thanks :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi pw,
      I also enjoy Earl Gaines.

      Here is some Earl Gains for you
      Earl Gaines - Yearning & Burning [1986]
      https://www23.zippyshare.com/v/MGehiJTH/file.html

      Earl Gaines - It's Worth Anything
      https://www64.zippyshare.com/v/67iC5ur0/file.html

      Cheers

      Delete
    2. Thanks for my favourite HBR B-side and the Charly album.

      I've managed to find 4 albums (320k & FLAC); You Got The Walk, Good To Me, Everything's Gonna Be Alright & Let's Work Together (with Roscoe Shelton)

      It's the "24 Hours A Day" I can't seem to locate - “24 Hours A Day” comprises nine scattershot singles from 1958-1962 and his long-out-of-print 1966 LP “The Best of Luck To You”, combining his Champion output with the Jimmy Beck orchestra from 1958 to 1960 and all sides from his lone HBR album.

      Delete
  4. FYI - 4 x Kent/ACE albums in the same vein (I have):

    Behind Closed Doors - Where Country Meets Soul Vol. 1 (Kent CDKEND 375) (2012)
    Sweet Dreams - Where Country Meets Soul Vol. 2 (Kent CDKEND 395) (2013)
    Cold Cold Heart - Where Country Meets Soul Vol. 3 (Kent CDKEND 422) (2014)

    and the last one turns it around with Country Names doing Soul versions;

    Out Of Left Field - Where Soul Meets Country (ACE CDCHD 1464) (2016)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi puw,
      I have The albums you mention and was planing on posting these at some stage.
      Thank you for the offer.

      Cheers

      Delete
    2. hi puw,
      I can't locate Cold Cold Heart - Where Country Meets Soul Vol. 3 (Kent CDKEND 422) (2014), so would be great if you could provide a link for that one. Thank you in advance
      Cheers.

      Delete
    3. I certainly can, but my best option is wetransfer & need an email? Is that possible ? Oh, let me try Mega, I might be able to do that to make things easier for you.

      Delete
    4. Sorry to jump on such an old thread, I've tracked down Vol 2 and Vol 3 but not the first... any chance you've already uploaded it on Mega somewhere?

      Delete
    5. Hi qqwertyy,
      Lets make a swap. I put these up soon.
      Would really like a copy of the Volume 3.

      Cheers.

      Delete
    6. Hi qqwertyy,
      New Link established, tested and working.

      Cheers.

      Delete
    7. Erm, isn't the Vol 3 you say your missing in the link below I sent you ages ago pal?

      Delete
    8. Hi puw,
      Hope you are well.
      I received Cold Cold Heart - Where Country Meets Soul Vol. 3 (Kent CDKEND 422) from you. I didn't see it as the 3rd in the Dirty Laundry series. But it did fit with...
      Behind Closed Doors - Where Country Meets Soul Vol. 1 (Kent CDKEND 375) (2012), Sweet Dreams - Where Country Meets Soul Vol. 2 (Kent CDKEND 395) (2013).

      I guess I thought qqwertyy had a vol. 3 of Dirty Laundry.

      Good to see you again.

      Cheers

      Delete
  5. https://mega.nz/#!qSgXBAiD!YR4H-ywkR_S9JBBJe-LBjFqtUTqODk2w09bQwT3nsuE

    I'm giving you FLAC and all the artwork etc :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi puw,
      Thank you for the link. It very generous of you. Appreciated.
      I will add it to the others and post them together in due course. Thanks again.

      Cheers

      Delete
  6. Thank you, Butterboy, looking forward to listening to these beauties

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Masters 6672.
    These two set are outstanding to listen to. Enjoy.

    Cheers.

    ReplyDelete